10 1Then Jesus left that place. He went into the area of Judea and across the JordanRiver. Again, many people came to him. And Jesus taught the people like he alwaysdid. 2Some Pharisees* came to Jesus. They tried to make Jesus say something wrong.They asked Jesus, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife?" 3Jesus answered, "What did Moses command you to do?" 4The Pharisees* said, "Moses allowed a man todivorce his wife by writing a certificate of divorce.* " 5Jesus said, "Moses wrotethat command for you because you refused to accept God's teaching. 6But when God made the world, 'he made people male and female.'* 7'That is why a man will leavehis father and mother and be joined to his wife. 8And the two people will become one.'* So the people are not two, but one. 9God has joined those two people together.So no person should separate them." 10Later, the followers and Jesus were in the house. The followers asked Jesus again about the question of divorce. 11Jesus answered,"Any person that divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of sin againsthis wife. He is guilty of the sin of adultery.* 12And the woman that divorces herhusband and marries another man is also guilty of adultery."

Jesus Accepts Children

13People brought their small children to Jesus, so that Jesus could touch them. But the followers told the people to stop bringing their children to Jesus. 14Jesussaw what happened. He did not like his followers telling the children not to come.Jesus said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, becausethe kingdom of God belongs to people that are like these little children. 15I tellyou the truth. You must accept the kingdom of God like a little child accepts things,or you will never enter it." 16Then Jesus held the children in his arms. Jesus puthis hands on them and blessed them.

A Rich Man Refuses to Follow Jesus

17Jesus started to leave, but a man ran to him and bowed on his knees before Jesus.The man asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to get the life that never ends?" 18Jesusanswered, "Why do you call me good? No person is good. Only God is good. 19[But I will answer your question.] You know the commands: 'You must not murder anyone,you must not do the sin of adultery,* you must not steal, you must not lie, you must not cheat, you must honor (respect) your father and mother....'* " 20The mansaid, "Teacher, I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy." 21Jesus lookedat the man. Jesus felt love for him. Jesus said, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor people.You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me." 22The man was very sorryto hear Jesus say this, and he left. The man was sad because he was very rich [andwanted to keep his money]. 23Then Jesus looked at his followers and said to them,"It will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!" 24The followerswere amazed at what Jesus said. But Jesus said again, "My children, it is very hardto enter the kingdom of God! 25And it will be very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God! It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!"26The followers were more amazed and said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"27Jesus looked at the followers and said, "This is something that people cannot do themselves. It must come from God. God can do all things." 28Peter said to Jesus,"We left everything to follow you!" 29Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. Every personthat has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farm for me and for the Good News* 30will get a hundred times more than he left. Here in this world that person will get more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children,and farms. And with those things, that person will have persecutions.* But he willalso have a reward in the world that is coming. That reward is life forever. 31Manypeople that have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And the people that have the lowest place now will have the highest place in thefuture."

Footnotes: Pharisees The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. Moses ... certificate of divorce See Deut. 24.1 'he made ... female' Quote from Gen. 1:27. 'That is why ... one' Quote from Gen. 2:24. adultery Breaking a marriage promise by sexual sin. 'You mustnot ... mother' Quote from Ex. 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20. Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever.persecution(s) Being hurt or bothered by Christ's enemies.

Have a great day! Note: This is a free service. We do not ask for or accept donations.Note: To change email preferences (daily, weekly, text-only, etc) or to stop emails,go to:eThought.com/changes or click on UPDATE PROFILE below.